North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s largest custom superyacht made rare appearances at his east coast mansion in the days surrounding two recent missile tests, NK Pro analysis of satellite imagery reveals, suggesting Kim may have unwound at the retreat around the important events.

The 260-foot (80-meter) vessel appeared at the private beach of Kim’s Wonsan mansion complex on March 15, one day before a failed missile test in Pyongyang, and on Feb. 28, a day after a successful missile launch in the capital, according to Planet labs imagery.

The imagery also shows that his second-largest superyacht was towed to a repair and upgrade dock in central Wonsan on March 16, likely in preparation for warmer months ahead. 

These activities come as state media continues this week to report “hardships and difficulties” across various economic sectors.

‘FLOATING AMUSEMENT PARK’

Once described as a “floating amusement park” by an Italian chef working for Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un’s largest luxury boat features an Olympic-sized swimming pool, two waterpark-style twisting waterslides and a multistory lounge that was upgraded in 2020. 

This vessel has now appeared at Kim’s east coast retreat three times this year, already surpassing its annual average of two confirmed trips away from its storage docks over the previous four years. 

It made its first trip to Kim’s Wonsan mansion the day after his late father’s birthday, a major state holiday, in February. 

Kim’s largest superyacht appeared to arrive at his Wonsan private beach between the mornings of Feb. 27 and 28 | Images: Planet Labs PBH, edited by NK Pro

The waters off his private beach remained mostly quiet in the weeks following, with a smaller custom luxury boat measuring 165 feet long (50 meters) changing positions in front of the mansion’s marina a few times in February.

The superyacht then arrived at the mansion’s beach between the mornings of Feb. 27 and 28, according to Planet Labs imagery, and appeared back at the central Wonsan docks on March 1. 

State media placed Kim at a political conference in Pyongyang on Feb. 26 and Feb. 28, meaning his family members or trusted associates may have used the vessel in his absence on Feb. 28. 

The vessel also may have arrived at the Wonsan mansion later in the day on Feb. 27, after satellite images were snapped around 11 a.m., and he may have traveled to Wonsan after likely attending the morning missile test the same day.

The superyacht arrived at the beach again between March 11 and 15 and returned to the Wonsan docks by March 16, while the 165-foot craft appeared in front of the private beach with smaller boats attached to it in different spots on both March 9 and 10, indicating it was in use.

The largest of Kim’s luxury crafts returned to his Wonsan mansion on March 15, a day before North Korea conducted a failed missile test | Images: Planet Labs PBH, edited by NK Pro

As for whether Kim was in Wonsan to use the superyacht on March 15, state media released a report on March 16 suggesting Kim had visited a housing project in Pyongyang the previous day, but it didn’t specify a date. Such undated reports typically, but not always, come out a day after the visit in question.

It’s possible Kim used the superyacht in Wonsan between March 12 and 14 when he was out of the public eye and when the vessel’s position could not be determined due to a lack of imagery, or he may have traveled to Wonsan after the housing project inspection on March 15. 

It is also possible that Kim’s family members or trusted associates were allowed to use the superyacht in his absence during its latest two trips to his Wonsan mansion, but its rare appearances away from the storage dock in years past suggest it’s only used on special occasions. 

PREPARING FOR SUMMER

Planet Labs imagery shows that Kim’s second-largest custom superyacht, a trapezoid-shaped towed vessel measuring 196 feet (60 meters), arrived at special repair docks in central Wonsan on March 16.

This comparison shows Kim’s superyacht returning to his private Wonsan storage dock and another of his luxury vessels arriving at a repair dock on March 16 | Images: Planet Labs PBH, edited by NK Pro

It last appeared to undergo repairs or upgrades at the same dock during the second half of March in both 2021 and 2020, before appearing to be used frequently throughout the following summers at Kim’s Wonsan mansion.

Its annual trips to the repair docks for weeks at a time suggest extensive work is being done and that the vessel still serves as one of Kim Jong Un’s favorite luxury properties. 

Edited by Arius Derr